BUTTE, Mont. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a major change to its Superfund cleanup policies affecting Butte.
Last Wednesday, the EPA revealed a new approach to handling Superfund sites, specifically focusing on the lead levels in soil and dust.
Previously, an area needed to have lead levels at 1,200 parts-per-million to qualify for Superfund assistance. This limit has now been significantly lowered to 175 parts-per-million in Butte.
This alteration also means that the Superfund boundary will expand by over 3,637 acres, incorporating 7,253 additional homes into the cleanup efforts.
J.P. Gallagher, chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow, commented on this change.
“It was always a hard conversation to say, ‘How can it be 1,200 in Butte, and 400 in Anaconda, and say that it’s safe for our residents?'” Gallagher said. “So, it’s more encompassing–to make sure that we’re protecting all the residents that have been impacted by mining in the past, and what that looks like going into our community.”
The initial phase of the Superfund cleanup in Butte began at Grove Gulch just east of Lexington Avenue in August. Expansion plans will be developed in 2025, as testing of soil and attic dust continues across various residences.
In the meantime, Butte-Silver Bow will have much else to consider, including locating the proper repositories for contaminated soil to be stored.
“The expansiveness of the program–we know that’s going to change how our Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP) works,” Gallagher said. “But again, it’s positive movement for us. We’re looking at the future of our community and getting past Superfund designation here.”
Public engagement is an essential component of the plan. The EPA has scheduled a 60-day comment period that runs until Dec. 16.
Written comments on the plan can be submitted via mail or emailed to epabutteppcomments@epa.gov.
Additionally, two public forums are scheduled to be hosted in Butte on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Monday, Nov. 18, respectively, to gather input and suggestions from the community. Both events will be held at the Copper Lounge of Montana Tech’s Student Union Building (SUB) at 1300 W Park St. from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
